Mumbai : Counting of votes began Monday for the Maharashtra Zilla Parishad (ZP) and Panchayat Samiti elections, with political observers watching closely as the Mahayuti alliance aims to consolidate its position following a notably high voter turnout in rural polls across the state.
Polling was held on Saturday, February 7, after being postponed from February 5 due to the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash and the ensuing state mourning period. Voters turned out in significant numbers across 12 districts, choosing representatives for 731 ZP seats and 1,462 Panchayat Samiti seats. The State Election Commission reported an overall turnout of 68.28 per cent, reflecting strong engagement in the rural electoral process. Parbhani led with nearly 75 per cent voter participation, while coastal Ratnagiri recorded the lowest turnout at roughly 56 per cent.
A total of 7,438 candidates were in the fray, representing a wide array of parties and independent interests across the region. Ahead of counting, the ruling Mahayuti alliance which includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Eknath Shinde‑led Shiv Sena had already secured 27 victories unopposed in some areas, giving it early momentum in key districts such as Sindhudurg and parts of Raigad and Ratnagiri.
The results, expected by late evening, will determine control of these local governance bodies, which oversee essential services such as water supply, rural infrastructure and education. Parties and strategists are treating the outcomes as an important gauge of political strength ahead of larger legislative contests, given the complex and evolving landscape of Maharashtra politics. The counting exercise is being viewed not only as a test of grassroots support for the Mahayuti alliance, but also as an indicator of shifting alliances and voter sentiment in the state’s rural heartland.
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